How to Buy an E34 5 Series BMW | Things to Look out for Before Purchasing! 

Definitely a big fan of the e34 myself - the classic proportions, aggressive quad round headlight nose, and the raw driving feel make it one of the best bmw sedans ever made!

This video is awesome bro.I'm planning to buy my dream car e 34 soon,thank you for this video.

Good vid bro, loving my 540i rn

Dude thanks so much for this. I'm about to check some e34's out this week and this video couldn't have made it much more timely!

Good rundown! A couple notes- The door seal strips bought for E39 fit but just need to be trimmed down. They’re only like 80$ each though. On the M60 Nickasil- it’s pronounced “Nick a sil” ;) like nickel. (It’s a nickel/silicone coating on the cylinder walls and it really worked..Unless exposed to high sulfur gas which prevailed in the NorthEast especially till about 1999-2000. On those blocks, the replacement wasn’t ever done as a recall, but as a “service action” and customers actually had to have a complaint to get a new block. All they had to say was “it idles rough”. I’d bet only maybe 30-40% were ever replaced. Lol my e32’s was replaced with yet another Nickasil in 1993 and it has been fine for 160k more miles 👍 If you are buying an automatic (yeah yeah manual effing swap lol) try to find out if it has been serviced. If it has-it means someone was paying attention or had a damn smart mechanic. 👍😜

Ur content on bimmers is so genuine I have a 93 (e36) 325i keep the bimmers alive it’s a dying breed

As someone who JUST bought a 93 525 thats a leaky sumbitch, it was reassuring to hear at the top of the video that leaks can be fixed, parts replaced etc. I was starting to second guess my purchase but I bought it to be a project for my son and I and am excited to tackle it now.

If I saw this before I bought mine I probably would’ve passed. You’re absolutely right, everything can be fixed. I’m on my 2nd M30, manual swapped, whole HVAC system, all hard lines, suspension, front jack points etc. The only constraint is one’s desire and means to fix everything. If there’s ever a car that’s worth bringing back on the road, an e34 is a strong candidate. Btw, was amazed your beat up parts 525 has a positive terminal cap.

Lovely!

On the M50 I'd add; Added chance for electrical issues (more toasty wires), water pump with plastic fins that breaks if not changed often enough, plastic theromstate housing as added weak point besides what was said in the video. And all cooling systems with plastic components in BMW weak points in general ofc, as mentioned. On the M30 and M20 the plastic weak point is the radiator, often goes bad between the expansiontank on the side and the aluminium radiator or the plastic outlets where the hoses are connected. On the M20 and M30, I'd say its a higher chance of warping the top if not letting them heat up properly, meaning higher likelihood of headgasket, also valves do need adjusting as they are older more mechanical tech. Can also tick if the tube spraying oil on the cam gets clogged from poor maintenance, but that goes back to all engines I guess.

Well done! M50’s are pretty much bullet proof. The weak part in my opinion is the cooling system. Have to keep an eye on the cooling system. All hail the e34 King!!

The E34 GOAT

im picking up a 95 in about a week, i cant wait

Hey man really helpful video, hoping you can help out a bit more! I’m looking into buying a 1990 E34 525i glacier blue bmw and it’s at 229k miles with an M20B25 engine. I know things can go wrong and I’m willing to take on a project I just need help for sure because everyone around advises against bmw’s bc of how they breakdown and not economically friendly but this is a dream car right here, thank you!

😆E34 King of ! Nice to meet you! I'm the #1 BMW E34 Wagon enthusiast on the interweb! 🤣

good job!

Hey josh i love the 525i

One that I'm looking at right now got an engine swap to a 540i Any advice on what to look for if the engine swap was done properly? Thank you !

I run e34's in the UK. ( 14 years. ) I have 2. a 520i SE & 525i SE. ( i prefer my 520. strange but true. ) The 520i is the exact same engine with 6 in line, just 500cc less. The standard exhaust note is AWESOME to listen to as you drive. I have owned my 520 for 10 years now no issues to worry about. Don't be scared to buy one, They simply Do NOT GO WRONG. Buy the very best you can find. Even the 518 is a great car, & 520i is fantastic, & 525i even Better. as with all BMW's go for the Manual box. ( nothing wrong with the Auto, But Manual is the best way to Fully Enjoy an e34.

Looking at a few that have caught my eye. A few decent running 540s for cheap, though one is a non runner and asking way too much ($10,000 aud vs. other running examples for sub-6k), it looks stunning exterior-wise and a few other goodies like M5 seats and M-Pars all round.

*Here in the UK E34's are pretty rare now and rust is the biggest issue I guess? I was lucky enough to buy a 535i that had a pretty extensive body restoration done about 2 years ago, so it's in pretty nice condition. A bit more power would be nice but I like the sound of the M30 so I'll just enjoy it as it is for now. If I had the cash I'd love an s54 to build my own take on an M5. Right now though, I just want to sort the suspension and drop the ride height another inch or two. I'm running staggered Azev alloys though, so will need to watch clearance. (8.5 & 10 x 17'' with 235/40 & 265/35 Yokohama) Maybe you could do a video that covers suspension upgrades? Anyway, thanks for the E34 content and look forward to seeing more. Mark*

Thank you for this video! i recently bought a 95 525i inspired by yours and your content on bimmers. Everything checks out great on the car but it does have lifter tick. Im not really sure on how to get that fixed or if it is fixable. Do you or does anyone have experience on how to fix it and whether or not it’s bad for the engine?

Just bought my 1st e34 540! Thanks for the content and reassurance that these are pretty solid are easily maintainable cars! The one I bought is super solid but found out the 55mph shake is a thing! I do smell coolant in the cab while driving and could that be heater core? I will be going through your videos!

I was thinking of getting a 520I 1.8L is it just as good? (It’s not an m series)

If i cant find a m50b25 then i will go for a m20b25 if i put a turbo in a m20b25 will it be much faster.

Do like me. No history, only half trusting the seller, obviously cheated legal inspection, fucked paint with rock chips and dents. So far so bad Your video is a gem. Wish I had seen it before buying.

Just bought an E34 530i for $500.00 Waisted auto, doing a 5 speed manual swap. Car even has two golfball dents from Bandon Dunes.

where is the best place to buy a e34 540i? I cant find any on fb market place

Question, have you ever done the power steering pump return hose before on the m60 motors? It’s not sealing properly and i used rubber silicone w/ a washer which temporarily works for now but still leaks; a friend of mine said to just use o-ring(s) to seal it properly

great video i have a 530i i really want to swap a b40 in it do you have any sources where i can find infos on what to do ?

7:52 couldn’t help but laugh because…man those fuckin air bay covers 😂😂😂

Bought an E34 that sat for about a year, a very low mileage example less than 60,000 kms (yes kms :) ). the only thing wrong with the car is that the tachometer does not work.... i've checked the fuse but still no go. any advice on what i should check?

just picked up a 91 525i 5 spd ultra marine cloth interior for 3800 alpine white clean paintt

I own a e34 my self mine is a 1995 525i and I had to buy a fuel pump and for some odd reason fcp euro doesn't sell the correct fuel pump for my car

Hi there! I inherited a 91. Undecided if i want to keep it or sell it. Any recommendations/suggestions?

Are e34 535i 5 speed going to go up in value? Mine has 170k miles

is that white e34 static? or bags

I'm about to throw up from all that wheel gap! #Joshwillnever

Is the 530i heavy on fuel.

"Dog bone " )) we col this " balls " (I mean man balls)) . Her in Europe we have not only 520, but even 518 e34 with m40 b18 four cylinders motor and it is shame of e34. But it has a big plus, as a rule 518 very often are in good body condition, and as you said, any motor can be swapped )))

I might be trading my cb7 5 speed for e34 m50. See how it goes.

Can u do an e36 video too non M cars next bless

Bro how about e34 520i

my parts car has really badly cracked dash e34 520i touring 1993

bmw mafia :P

All good motors?.. oh yeah, you probably didn't get the 518i.

e34 m20 is dangerously slow!! LOL prepare to swap if you find an auto one. getting ready to m52 swap mine

When I hear 20° in winter, first of all I think it's fucking frosty !!!! Then I remember it is Fahrenheit not Celsius , and 20°F it is - 6,6 °C and it is frosty, but not so much ))))

Josh Miller will never

You Talk too Fast Bro!

On the White e34 what size rims are those Type-2's and did u have to roll the fenders?

Is the 530i heavy on fuel.